Imagine vacationing on a cruise ship that offers a plethora of amenities without sailing out into the sea. Perhaps this is the best and the most concise way to illustrate Club Med Bali, an enormous, all-inclusive upscale resort in Nusa Dua that recently reopened after closing temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Day to night to morning, Club Med Bali keeps you in the moment (Doja Cat fans, what’s good?). But is the all-in price really worth it?
Coconuts Bali was recently invited to the resort for their official re-launching, which included a one-night stay in order for us to experience as many of the resort’s activities as possible.
The room that was assigned to us was as comfortably luxurious as one would expect from a five-star resort in Bali, featuring a king-size bed, premium shower gel and shampoo conditioner, and minibar. As Club Med is an all-inclusive resort, you don’t need to worry about extra charges for taking anything from the fridge. The stay started well, indeed.
Bubbly hosts and endless F&B
The first things that we noticed are the bubbly hosts and hostesses (who are referred to as GO, which is short for Gentil Organizer), who cater to guest needs. As an all-inclusive resort, Club Med naturally doesn’t allow visitors from outside the establishment. In fact, you will be given a bracelet that serves as your room key as well as a signifier that you are a guest.
Most of Club Med Bali’s guests that day, we noticed, were families or couples. So perhaps a solo visit would be a little lonely. But don’t worry! This is when the GOs step in. Club Med’s GOs are friendly, approachable, and warm. And they’re all quite energetic, as we distinctly remember several GOs who greeted us in the morning were also present during the dance party in the evening and even leading the crowd in songs. Some of them are also talented in sports, so if you want to play tennis, for example, you won’t have a problem finding a hitting partner.
Other daily activities that visitors could enjoy including snorkeling, trapeze (yep, they offer courses on this, actually), sport activities, yoga, art classes, and so on. Club Med Bali also plans to open up their own padel tennis courts, in line with the growing number of padel enthusiasts all over the world, including on the island. If you bring kids, rest assured that they will be very well taken care off as the venue also offers Mini Club Med+ that offers many activities that are tailored to develop their soft skills with positive psychology approaches.
There’s always a little bit of everything for everybody. Take their swimming pools, for example. They have one pool for everyone including families where one can have fun and enjoy sunbathing, but they also have another one, called Zen Pool, for those who wish to enjoy solitude while relaxing by the pool (they’re very strict about this, by the way, including not allowing drones to fly over this specific area, so you will definitely be relaxed while enjoying your time there).
Foodies are also well taken care of at Club Med Bali as they have a variety of restaurants catering to different appetites including their upscale, all-dining experience The Agung, their al fresco dining place The Deck, which is surrounded by beautiful pools, as well as food trucks that offer yummy street snacks.
The highlight of the night would be Club Med Bali’s general manager performing as Freddie Mercury, lip-syncing to a Queen medley while donning a yellow jacket and fake mustache. Coconuts Bali’s editor happens to be a semi-retired drag performer and approved of the performance.
In further testimony to their boundless energy, the GOs and the GM are also present as you leave the premises when you check out. They repeatedly assure you that they were happy to have you and can’t wait for you to return. Yes, this might be a nice gesture made mandatory by corporate — but it’s still nice to feel appreciated, especially as the farewell involves all of the hosts and hostesses on duty.
When it comes to food and drinks and activities, Club Med Bali is definitely on-brand with its all-inclusive motto. Indeed, you can enjoy a limitless amount of almost everything available on the premises, and it’s a great deal for the price you pay upfront. Of course, some things cost extra, like their collection of premium wines, but if gin and tonic is your poison or having tequila shots on a whim is your thing, then just drink up.
Workcation woes
A lot of people come to Bali for remote work, so we know that the ability to get work done in between fun is a consideration for many travelers. Based on our experience staying at Club Med Bali, the resort’s internet connection did not quite meet our desired standards for work in terms of speed and stability. In fact, we had to occasionally use our own mobile data during our stay to finish some tasks.
Representatives of Club Med noted the issue when we brought it up with them and said the fact that some of their guests were on “workcations” was definitely something they took into account so we imagine it’s something they’ll work on addressing soon.
All in all, Club Med Bali is still most suited for family holidays and honeymoons. Solo travelers who are looking for perfect strangers might find it challenging, although the friendly GOs go a long way towards making the experience feel friendly and personal. That said, the resort would be a perfect place to host bachelor or bachelorette parties due to the all-inclusive nature and the never-ending activities.
Rooms starts from IDR4 million (US$267) per night (all inclusive)
FIND IT:
ADDRESS: Kawasan Pariwisata Nusa Dua BTDC Lot. 6, Jl. Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80363
About 20-30 minutes from the Ngurah Rai International Airport.
